# Replace an element

Swap an element for another in the same position.

Canonical: https://1loc.dev/dom/replace-an-element/
Version: 1.0.0
Runtime: JavaScript · modern browsers (DOM)
Verification: Usage lines executed in headless Chromium against the fixture markup; no external services
Updated: 2026-10-28

## Implementation

```javascript
function replace(element, replacement) { element.replaceWith(replacement); }
```

## Usage

Markup:

```html
<div id="slot"><p id="loading">Loading…</p></div>
```

Script:

```javascript
const ready = document.createElement('p');
ready.textContent = 'Ready';
replace(document.querySelector('#loading'), ready);
document.querySelector('#slot').textContent; // → 'Ready'
```

Lines marked → were executed in headless Chromium against the markup above, and each result was compared with the value shown. Lines marked e.g. are illustrative.

## Limits

- Element.replaceWith is the modern form of parentNode.replaceChild(newNode, oldNode), whose argument order is easy to swap by mistake.
- Listeners on the old element are not transferred.

The function does not validate its arguments. Add checks where it receives untrusted input.

## Source and license

Original: https://github.com/phuocng/1loc/blob/14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b/contents/replace-an-element.mdx
Author: Nguyen Huu Phuoc and original contributors
Contributors: See original repository history
Source commit: 14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b
Copyright (c) 2020 phuoc-ng
License: MIT — https://1loc.dev/licenses/
Maintainer: Oveyon
Modifications: Uses Element.replaceWith. Executed in Chromium. Original MDX retained as inert source evidence.